Mukerjee first came to the city in February, when Zabell hired him for a new deputy city manager position. Mukerjee had been the city administrator in neighboring Milton.

The job was created to provide general management oversight for a newly created corrections department, along with other citywide responsibilities such as IT and human resources.

After Zabell’s departure, the City Council appointed Mukerjee as an interim replacement while Prothman conducted its nationwide search.

Mukerjee said Tuesday that he never expected to be promoted so soon after taking the deputy city manager job.

“It’s a pleasant surprise,” he said.

Mukerjee was immediately sworn in following Tuesday’s vote. He’ll make $12,575 per month. His contract states that the new manager, who currently lives in Thurston County, would earn a $5,000 bonus if he moves to Fife .

Mukerjee’s contract also provides a $500 monthly car allowance and the option to renegotiate his contract in November.

Mukerjee's changing roles are the latest in a string of leadership shakeups over the past year.

Fife has had three mayors since early January 2014.

In January, current council member and then-mayor Rob Cerqui was unseated after the Fife City Council voted to appoint Glenn Hull to the position. A month later, Hull resigned in order to move to Georgia and current Mayor Tim Curtis was appointed to replace him.